Six minors held for bike racing in Chennai

The police arrested six minors who were involved in a betting bike race, and injured a motorist in the process, on Santhome High Road on Saturday night.

Three bikers, with a pillion rider each, were speeding on South Canal Bank Road-Dr. D.G.S. Dinakaran Road, around 9.30 p.m., when one of them collided with a motorcyclist, Natarajan of Kodungaiyur, coming from the opposite direction, injuring him.

They fell off their bikes and were nabbed by the public and a policeman on duty. Seeing this, the other speedsters abandoned their bikes and fled. They were later picked up from their homes, charged with rash driving and endangering the lives of others and sent to the juvenile home in Saidapet.

Of the six offenders, three were school dropouts and two were pursuing diploma courses. “They started racing from a point before Adyar bridge. The wager was that the biker who reached Light House first would win Rs. 750,” said a senior traffic police officer.

This year, till date, 13 bikers were arrested for rash driving. “Youngsters are struggling to find empty stretches suitable for racing, as we have intensified checks on most roads in the city,” said a senior police officer.

Pillion rider dies

In another incident, an 18-year-old died and his 19-year-old friend was injured after an MTC bus hit their two-wheeler near All India Radio station on Sunday. The police are investigating if the two were racing.

The MTC bus (route 6D) heading towards Marina hit the bike when it came from the opposite direction.

Vignesh, who was riding pillion, fell on the road, sustained severe injuries and died later. Jagan, who rode the bike, is being treated at Government Royapettah Hospital. Both the men are from the Chintadripet area.